Winter is coming, and we are getting a lot of questions from our home inspection clients on how to light their gas fireplace. The good thing is that most modern gas fireplaces are simple and easy to light with a few simple steps.
Gas Fireplace
Per our standards of practice, if the pilot light in your gas fireplace is turned off, our home inspectors are not allowed to light the pilot. We will, however, show you the basics and point you to the manufacturer’s instructions.
Gas Fireplace Basics
The modern gas fireplace works very similarly to most other natural gas or propane appliances in your home, such as furnaces, water heaters, and gas stoves.
The gas is supplied to the gas fireplace through a gas line to the control valve. When the control valve is turned on, the gas will flow to the main burner and be ignited by an electrical igniter or a pilot light. The igniter works by electrically producing a spark to light the gas. You will find ignitors in newer gas fireplaces. A pilot light is a continuously lit flame next to the burner. A pilot light is the more traditional source of ignition in a gas fireplace.
Manufacturer’s Instructions
Most gas fireplaces have a handy set of instructions printed on a metal plate that is chained to the unit in the access panel. It’s pretty typical to find this covered in dust. Use a damp towel to clean the instructions so that you can read them. Note that all gas fireplaces will have instructions unique to your particular model.
Example of Manufacturer’s Instructions
Warning: Follow your manufacturer’s instructions exactly as printed. If you don’t, a fire or explosion may result, causing property damage, personal injury, or loss of life.
Before Operating
Take some time to sniff around the gas fireplace area. Keep in mind that the gas is heavier than air and will settle towards the floor or bottom of the gas fireplace compartment. If you smell gas, immediately turn the valve off and call your gas supplier.
Also keep in mind that some gas fireplaces have a remote, some have a switch on the unit itself for turning the fire on and off, while others may have a thermostat on the wall.
Gas Valve, Control Knob, and Igniter Button
Basic Lighting Instructions
Locate the control knob on your gas fireplace. This is typically a knob that has "Off," "Pilot," and "On" printed on it. There will also be a red indicator below, next to the knob, showing which position the knob is in. Make sure the valve is in the "off" position.
If your gas valve is in the off (closed) position, turn the valve to the on (open) position. Again, take a few minutes to sniff around for any gas leaks.
Turn the control valve to the “Pilot” position. When you are ready to light the pilot, press the knob and hold it in place. This will start the flow of gas to the pilot.
Press the igniter button, which is usually next to the control knob. Press the button about once every second until you see that the pilot light has lit. Sometimes the pilot will light right away, and sometimes it will take a few times before the pilot lights.
Once you have your pilot light lit, continue to hold the control knob down for 15 to 30 seconds to make sure that it stays lit. This time can vary from unit to unit. If the pilot light goes out when you release the knob, repeat the steps until your pilot is lit. If the pilot light will not light, turn the gas valve off and call your gas fireplace service technician.
Turn the control knob to the “On” position. If you have a switch on the gas fireplace, turn it on to light the burner. If you have a remote, use it to turn the fireplace on.
Replace any covers you may have removed.
Summary
Like other gas appliances, if your gas fireplace has a pilot light, there will be specific instructions on how it should be correctly lit. Our best advice? Refer to your owner’s manual or the manufacturer’s instructions on the metal plate previously described.
As an example, the gas fireplace in my home has no pilot; it is all electronic. When I press the “On” button on the remote, the system electronically lights itself.
At HomePro Inspections, our home inspectors are trained to inspect gas fireplaces and identify any defects. Any issues are documented in your home inspection report and recommended for resolution by a qualified professional.
Visit our website to learn more or to schedule your home inspection in the Rochester, Owatonna, and Faribault, MN areas. You can contact us today at (507) 202-8942 or utilize our online “Schedule Now” feature to set up an appointment.